Igor Decraene wins junior Worlds time trial; Britain’s Gibson fifth

Belgian Igor Decraene won the junior’s time trial at the World Championships this morning. Second-last to arrive in Florence, he knocked off Dane Mathias Krigbaum and early pacesetter, USA’s Zeke Mostov.

“I’m the champion,” the 17-year-old said, “it couldn’t be better than that.”

Brit Matt Gibson placed fifth, 30 seconds behind Decraene. He vomited and crashed to the ground after his ride. The first-year junior explained, “The Worlds is all about learning.”

Gibson rolled off the start ramp south of the city on the Arno and arrived near the football stadium 27-26 minutes later. He zipped through the finish line, vomited and crashed into a bystander. Medics tended to his cut knee him as he vomited again.

Once cleaned up, he rode to the waiting tent. He sat second best and third best, eventually pushed down to fifth. “I didn’t know what to expect before, I thought I’d be happy with top ten,” Gibson added.

“It’s important to learn what I need to do next year, to improve on that. I learnt just how hard I can go, how hard I can push myself.”